Strep B?

[Snowy27]

Hi
I got a letter today confirming I've got group B strep and will need antibiotics in labour- any one had any experience of this? Does it rule out a water birth? Can I still move about? Will I have to stay in longer after the birth? (so many things to panic about!)
There was supposed to be a letter included to explain everything, but there wasn't and Dr Google has thrown up loads of different things!
Thanks

yes I had it sorry but it rules out a water birth I had antibiotics by iv (they kept forgetting to renew it) I could move around until too tired remember that they should watch the baby for 72 hours after in case it still picked up the infection but my hospitsl wernt bothered about this will use a different hospital this time

Snowy, it means that you'll be given antibiotics and be kept in for at least 24 hours to monitor your little one in order to rule out meningitis. I had to be given hormones to help labour along. Hth.

Have a look here. It is the best resource of reliable info.

Ds was born 7 weeks early and was very very poorly but survived. I was picked up as a group B strep carrier and had iv antibiotics during labour.

I was in Ireland but I had this.

I got one shot of antibiotics (injection, not drip) and there was no time for another as baby was born within an hour or so of me getting there.
As far as I know, if you get the full dose of antibiotics during labour, your baby shouldn't need extra monitoring after birth?

Due to me not getting the full dose, DS was given antibiotics after being born and I stayed in a bit longer for him to have his doses - was in for 2 nights post-birth rather than just 1.

I would ask your midwife at the next visit what procedure is in your hospital. Emphasise that you want to be as mobile as possible etc.

I had the full dose. Didn't prevent ds being in NICU/SCBU for just under 4 weeks and me being told at the end of the first week that he was unlikely to survive (and he was being pumped full of antibiotics too).

You really need to speak to midwives on your labour ward, as policy can vary from hospital to hospital - with regards to how you recieve antibiotics, when and where etc. Also policy regarding your stay afterwards varies massively.

I had it with DD, 7 years ago, and didnt have antibiotics because labour was only 90mins. I was kept in 'for observation' for three nights because of this. I say observation, but I was in a private room and never saw a midwife so may as well have been at home.

This time, I need to make a decision regarding antibiotics, as my new hospitals policy is continuous monitoring throughout the four hours you're recieving drip antibiotics. Thats my idea of hell - four hours on the bed, no thank you. :( plus its likely the labour will be even quicker this time, and any antibiotics will be useless.

Speak to your midwife, like i said. It doesnt HAVE to rule out a waterbirth, if thats what you really want - but it would need to be discussed and prepared for in advance.

it's best to check the NICE guidines then tell the hospital what they need to do, this is your/my baby's health were talking about

There's lots of information on the Group B Strep Support website. There's even an article about it - see www.gbss.org.uk/content.php?sub_id=15&section_id=3#29 for more information specifically on carrying GBS and water births.

Carrying group B Strep during your pregnancy means you should be offered intravenous antibiotics as soon as possible once labour has started. The antibiotics (usually penicillin) are given either as a slow injection over a few minutes or as a drip over about 20-30 minutes. They're then topped up every 4 hours (for penicillin, longer for alternatives) until the baby is born. It doesn't mean you have to be strapped to the bed all the time - you can move around almost as much as you want to.